A formal letter with…

   A formal letter with mapping will be mailed as well.

  Whereas the Township of Puslinch recognizes the importance of protecting its key natural environmental features while maintaining a balanced approach to sustainable growth and economic development; and

  Whereas the Township currently has limited opportunities for growth and economic development; and

  Whereas Highway 401 is a major goods movement corridor and connects the Greater Toronto area, southwestern Ontario and USA and is a corridor for trade and economic development; and

  Whereas the Province has emphasized the importance of residential and employment corridors next to transportation and transit corridors;

  Whereas the proposed Natural Heritage System outside the Greenbelt abuts approximately ¿ of the Highway 401 corridor and should be reduced in areas located adjacent to and near to Highway 401 and Highway 6 in light of the critical role of the Highway 401 Corridor in meeting the needs for goods movement and transit in the Province and the long term importance of the Highway 401 corridor for economic development in the Township and the County of Wellington; and

  Whereas there should be a transitional core area to provide a transition in the non-Greenbelt part of the Township from the 500 ha core areas in the Greenbelt Natural Heritage System to the 100 ha core areas in the remainder of the County;

  Whereas lands with existing Recreational and Country Residential Official Plan Designations are requested to be excluded from the proposed Natural Heritage System, in similar fashion to Urban Centre and Hamlet settlement areas that are already excluded; and

  Whereas the Province has emphasized the importance of residential and employment corridors next to transportation and transit corridors; and

  Whereas the proposed policy changes negate the Township’s ability for strategically planned balanced growth and economic development; and

  Whereas Schedule A7 – Puslinch of the County of Wellington Official Plan and draft Growth Plan Natural Heritage System map is attached as part of this resolution to reference and illustrate the impact;

  Now therefore the Council for the Township of Puslinch hereby requests that the Minister extend the EBR commenting period to allow staff the opportunity to continue to work with the Provincial ministry to address concerns prior to approval regarding a transitional core area to provide a transition in the non-Greenbelt part of the Township from the 500 ha core areas in the Greenbelt Natural Heritage System to the 100 ha core areas in the remainder of the County; and

  That a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the County of Wellington and MPP, Ted Arnott requesting support.

[Original Comment ID: 211098]